The Interpretive Process

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalysis
• Psychology
• Psychotherapy

Background:

• Psychoanalytic literature increasingly emphasizes interpsychic and processive dimensions.
• The traditional concept of interpretation may not fully capture these nuances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reformulate the concept of interpretation in psychoanalysis.
• To highlight the interpsychic and processive aspects of interpretation.
• To challenge the notion of 'making interpretations' as artificial.

Main Methods:

• Review of psychoanalytic writings, particularly those of Hans Loewald.
• Elaboration of contemporary psychoanalytic thought from thinkers like Sheldon Bach, Ronald Britton, and Antonino Ferro.

Main Results:

• Proposes a redefined concept of interpretation.
• Distinguishes between the interpretive process and the act of making interpretations.
• Suggests the process is more central to analytic work than discrete interpretations.

Conclusions:

• The reformulated concept of interpretation better reflects current psychoanalytic understanding.
• Viewing interpretation as a process, rather than a product, is more aligned with therapeutic action.
• This perspective offers a more nuanced understanding of psychoanalytic work.